Some Facts About Bicycles And Accidents

Posted By Roman & Gaynor || 7-Nov-2011

Florida remains a high outlier for
bicycle deaths, with a rate three times the national average. We have six-percent
of the nation’s population, but account for 17-percent of bicyclist deaths.

Our traffic laws in Florida do not provide for special treatment or protection
of cycling groups, and a group is not considered “one unit”
for purposes of stopping at lights and stop signs.

A bicycle is considered a vehicle under Florida law, which means you can
get a DUI on a bike.

When you’re riding on a sidewalk or in a crosswalk, you’re
considered a
pedestrian; when you’re riding on the road, you’re considered a driver
of a vehicle.

Only those under 16 must wear a helmet, and failure to wear a helmet cannot
be used to show you were partly at fault for your injuries in case of
an accident (BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU SHOULD NOT WEAR A HELMET).

Police reports are not admitted in evidence in personal injury or death
cases; juries or judges must make their own decision about fault based
on the evidence (THIS IS ONE OF SEVERAL REASONS NOT TO ARGUE WITH TRAFFIC OFFICERS).

Nationally, the typical bicyclist killed was a man traveling in the afternoon
or evening.

Nationally, large expensive motor vehicles, especially freight trucks,
are involved in a disproportionately large share of bicyclist deaths.

In the U.S., about one-percent of urban travel is by bicycle, and about
30-percent of Americans are obese. In the Netherlands, 28-percent of urban
travel is by bicycle, and 10-percent of their population is obese.